Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Saturday launched the LAccMI scheme (Location Accessible Multi-modal Initiative) bus service in the tribal majority Rayagada district to boost the rural economy and improve connectivity. Launching the service through virtual mode, Patnaik said a total of 52 buses will run to connect to all 182 gram panchayats in the district. There will be 300 bus stops for affordable bus service under the scheme.
According to the provisions under the scheme, a woman can travel from gram panchayat headquarters to block headquarters at a fare of Rs 5. The chief minister said he was optimistic that the affordable bus service will bring change to the lives of people in Rayagada district. “This is likely to transform our rural transport system. The buses will now connect from one village to another, improve social bonding, and strengthen the rural economy,” he said.
Patnaik said his government came to know the requirement of the people from the CMO Grievance meetings. He said now children can easily go to schools and colleges, working women to offices, farmers to markets, and also take patients to hospitals. The objective of the programme is to improve the local transport system and promote tourism as well as regional economy.
Patnaik said the state government is investing Rs 90 crore in Rayagada district under the ‘Ama Odisha, Nabin Odisha’ (Our Odisha, New Odisha) programme. 5T (transformational initiative) and Nabin Odisha Chairman VK Pandian coordinated the event and said he had visited Rayagada district on the instruction of the Chief Minister prior to the launch of the LAccMi scheme. Starting October 12 from Malkangiri district, the scheme is being launched in six southern Odisha district in the first phase.